Sarah Baum and Davey Van Zyl, Bali 2009

I  was cruising around Bali with Tammy-Lee Smith and her friend searching for waves when she mentioned to me that Sarah Baum is in G-Land. My curiosity sat up and flicked it’s ears. Who is Sarah Baum exactly I wondered. Admittedly  my knowledge of the South African surfing scene, especially the younger female crew is a bit slim. I had heard Sarah’s name before, probably even seen her surfing somewhere during my infrequent visit to contests in South Africa. I much prefer to be around free surfing. Hence my move to Bali.

A few key strokes later and I’d connected with Sarah on Facebook and it turned out they would be in Bali for a couple of days after G-Land before flying back to South Africa. Sarah was traveling with her dad and some other friends including David Van Zyl. I was frothing to shoot photo’s with these young guns and so we collaborated on a few photo missions around Bali. Sarah even impressed fellow photographer Brad Masters who has been on photo trips with some of the worlds best free surfers. He claimed that she falls off her board like a guy. To him this is a sign of a woman that charges.

Following is a Q&A with Sarah and Davey.

TSP:How long have you been surfing. Who or what motivates you to keep improving.

DVZ: I’ve surfed since I was 10 and it’s always been Taylor Knox’s attitude and style that inspires me.

SB:  it has always been my dream to become a pro surfer so I think my goals in life and being so close to nature.

TSP: Competitive achievements.

DVZ: 11st u16  Billabong jnr Scottbrough 2009 , 1^st u16 SA Champs Nahoon 2009 ,1 st u17 Volcom Dairy beach 2008

SB: I had a great result at the ISA World Junior Champs in New Zealand to start off the year. I got a 3rd overall in the girls under 18 division.

TSP: Do you prefer free surfing or contests.

DVZ: I definitely prefer free surfing but contests are also a really fun way of pushing your surfing.

SB:  I really like competing and I also really like free surfing. I can’t really choose which is better.

TSP: Future plans.

DVZ: Finish school , lots of travel and see how it goes.

SB: I want to travel as much as I can while I am young so that when I am older I am used to traveling.

TSP: Where is your home break.

DVZ: New Pier, Durban .

SB: I live in Amanzimtoti so I kind of surf there a bit and I also surf New Pier in town.

TSP: What does an average day consist of for you.

DVZ: Wake up early and eat two huge bowls of Milo serial then go for an early surf. After that I’ll go to school and after school I’ll surf with Andrew till its dark.

SB:  An average day for me will be to wake up at about 6 or 6:30, check the waves and have a surf. At about 11 I go to gym and train and then after that I’ll do some school work. Later in the afternoon I’ll go for another surf.

TSP: Do you do any special training?

DVZ: Lots of surfing and pilates

SB: I have a personal trainer who has helped me so much.

TSP: What about a special diet?

DVZ: Lots of bananas.

SB: I am not really on a diet but I just watch what I eat and eat as much greens as I can.

TSP: Who is your surfing Coach.

DVZ: Quintin Jones.

SB: I have just spoken to Simon Nicolson about coaching so hopefully that will be pretty good.

TSP: What do you do when you’re not surfing?

DVZ: Play some golf and tennis.

SB: School work, training or just chilling with friends.

TSP: We met recently here in Bali was this your first trip here?

DVZ: Yip, Amazing to check it out and surf like twenty different spots in one day with really clear warm water and friendly people.

SB:  Yeah it was my first trip to Bali and it was amazing.

TSP: How do the waves compare to South Africa and other breaks around the world.

DVZ: There’s a lot more power compared to home  and really leg burning  l-o-o-o-n-g waves.

SB: It’s really cool that there is no other spot in the world that is the same.

TSP: How were the crowds and how do you go about getting waves in the crowded line ups?

DVZ: Ulu’s (Uluwatu) was crowded but I found that if you paddle up to Temples you can get a couple waves up there by yourself and when you kick off your wave you land up directly on the inside of the main take off spot.

SB: I would kind of sneak on the inside a few times, ha-ha, but some people are pretty cool because I am a girl and they will give me a few waves.

TSP: What was the favourite surf spot and why?

DVZ: I really liked G-Land, just perfect long barelling waves and Ulus is also really rippable.

SB: I think it was surfing G-land. To surf such good waves was just amazing.

TSP: What was it like traveling with the crew you were with?

DVZ: Really cool Sarah surfs really good and I’ve known the Baums for so long so they’re kind of like family.

SB: I have known Davey for years so it was really cool to go on a trip with him. It was his first trip overseas so that was pretty cool too.

TSP: Hi lights of the trip, not only good surf. What other experiences stand out.

DVZ: Watching Andrew doing big hacks and stumbling along every piece of reef. The food was also really good and just surfing with the our SA crew.

SB: I think surfing with my dad and my friends and chilling and having a really good time.

TSP: Would you recommend a surf trip to Bali?

DZV: For sure, there’s perfect waves all over and really friendly locals.

SB: I would definitely recommend a trip to Bali. There are so many different surf spots to surf.

TSP: Tips on boards for Indonesia.

DVZ: You can only take three boards so make sure they’re well glassed and order a board at least two inches bigger than normal because of the push. Definitely take a gun.

SB: You really need a big board when it gets big and a few normal boards. You can also take a fish for when it gets small.

TSP: Essential items to pack.

DVZ: Sun block and extra leashes.

SB: I think you really need a medical pack because you could hit the reef. Sun cream.

TSP: How do you amuse yourself on the long flights and during the airport lurking.

DVZ: The Mario brothers  game on the plane’s on-board game console.

SB: I try to sleep as much as I can or just walk around the airport on my own mission.

TSP: Advice for youngsters who wish to follow in your footsteps.

DVZ: Try to not go during the Aussie school holidays and just charge.

SB: Follow your dreams and just have as much fun as possible while doing it.